International Luxury Travel Market set to meet in Cape Town next month

The launch of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Africa, Cape Town [ www.iltm.net/africa ] will also include the first ILTM Africa Forum – a live debate led by some of Africa’s leading indu

The launch of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Africa, Cape Town [ www.iltm.net/africa ] will also include the first ILTM Africa Forum – a live debate led by some of Africa’s leading industry figures who will discuss the rise of luxury travel, the issues that this has brought to the continent, and how safari tourism has moved upmarket. There will also be a key one-on-one interview to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Forum, facilitated by international African Travel Writer, Graham Boynton, will take place before the show opens on Monday, April 8, at the Mount Nelson Hotel, the same venue as the ILTM Africa showcase. It will be in two parts and starts with Minister Alan Winde, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism for the Western Cape government, who will give an insight into the infrastructure and tourism assets of his region and beyond. Winde will then be followed by South African author, Clem Sunter, focusing on Africa’s economic and political health.

Boynton will then facilitate a lively debate on “The Issues Facing the Luxury Travel Market” looking at perception vs. reality – how the outside world sees Africa – and the impact of recent changes that have taken place in the market, plus how the luxury African product has evolved and the key issue of intra-country air connections. Taking part will be Tony Romer Lee, CEO, The Collection by Liz McGrath; Adrian Gardiner, Founder & CEO, Mantis Group; and Beks Ndlovu, CEO, African Bush Camps.

ILTM’s Exhibition Director, Alison Gilmore, commented: “The point of the ILTM forum concept is to kick off an event with some content and debate that gives all our participants – exhibitors and hosted buyers – real insights into trends, issues, and successes of the host country as well as some thought provoking take-aways to begin their two days of business. We are delighted to welcome Minister Alan Winde and, of course, such an influential line-up of speakers for what is bound to be a lively and enlightening debate that will also give the audience the opportunity to ask their own questions from those that are directly involved in the industry luxury tourism.”

In its first year, ILTM Africa 2013 will be the first invitation-only event in Africa to showcase 70 exclusively African travel experiences who will meet with 70 international Hosted Buyers, dedicated to creating and planning luxury travel inbound to Africa.

Business appointments are pre-scheduled, matching mutual requests from buyers and exhibitors alike to meet on a strict one-to-one ratio. Following the traditional ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors must follow a strict accreditation process in order to participate. For further information, please visit www.iltm.net/africa

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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